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(N0 Model.)

B. M. BENTLEY. CONTACT DEVICE FOR ELEGTRIG RAILWAYS. No. 445,634. v Patented Feb. 3, 1891.

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EDIVARD M. BENTLEY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

CONTACT DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 445,634, dated February 3, 1891.

Application filed September 20, 1888. Serial No. 285,934. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. BENTLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing" at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Contact Devices for Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric railways wherein the supply-conductor is inclosed in a slotted conduit in a well-known manner. In a road of this character comprising a double track I iind it desirable to provide cross-overs at suitable points, by which a car may be transferred from one track to the other. This crossover section of track pref erably is not provided with a conduit, and in order that a car may be run over them I make use of a contact device so constructed that it can readily be removed through the slotted conduit. Such a contact device forms the subject of my present invention, and in claiming it I do not in any wise limit it merely to its use in connection with the crossover track, also described, for it is evident that the improvements are of such a nature as make them of equal value and importance in other connections as well. lVhen it is desired to use the cross-over, I propel the car,

either by hand or other suitable means, from one track to the other, having first removed the contact device. After being transferred the contact device is inserted into the con duit in the opposite track and the vehicle can proceed.

My invention is shown in the accompanyinc; drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a double-track railway and cross-over. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a removable contact device, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

In the figures, A, B, O, and D are the four rails of the two tracks.

E and F are the two rails of the cross-over track, G and ll being ordinary track-switches. The two tracks are provided with slotted conduits K and L, respectively.

M is a contact device extending into the slot, having two contact pieces N and O, which normally press against the two supplyconductors, respectively, but which may col lapse and be withdrawn from the slot of the conduit. This contact device is pivoted at P in a traveler Q,adapted to slide in a transverse guide R. The upper part of the contact device is provided with a segment, around which pass in opposite directions the two operating-cords S and T. It is normally held in a vertical position by the lug U engaging with the spring-catch V. \Vhen, however, it is necessary to remove the contact device from the conduit, one of the cords S or T is pulled untilU is forced out of the spring-catch V. The device then turns upon pivot P until it comes out of the conduit. When the device is once out, the vehicle may be transferred across to the opposite track and the device again inserted, the insulating-lining IV guiding the contact devices N and 0 onto the two supplyconductors, respectively.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in an electric railway, of a contact device pivoted on a transverse axis to a traveler movable laterally with respect to the vehicle.

The combination, with a transverse guide, of a traveler Q,sliding thereon, and a contact device M, pivoted to said traveler on a transverse axis.

3. The combination, with a laterally-movable traveler, of a contact device pivoted thereto on a transverse axis, and a springcatch connection between the said contact device and the traveler, by which the former is held normally in its operative position.

4. The combination of a contact device attached to a laterally-movable traveler, and a flexible actuating device leading from said contact device to a Iixcd point on the vehicle, whereby the contact device may be operated "independently of its transverse movement.

5. The combination, in an electric railway, of a conduitand supply-conductor therein with a vehicle, a transverse guide thereon, and a contact device travelingalong' said guide and movable into and out of the conduit without moving the guide.

6. The combination, in an electric railway,

of a transverse guide with a traveler movwe able along said guide, and a contact device I able traveler, of a contact device movable pivoted to the traveler upon a substantially relatively to the traveler, and a spring-catch to horizontal axis. connection between the contact device and 7. The combination of a transverse guide, the traveler, by which the former is held nor- 5 a traveler movable along the guide, and a mally in its operative position.

contact device pivoted to the traveler, with a EDWARD M. BENTLEY. flexible conducting-lead extending directly Witnesses: from the said contact device to the car. RoBT. W. BLACKWELL,

8. The combination, with a laterally-mov- DAVID P. THOMSON. 

